Fluid switching valves



Filed Aug. 23, 1960 April 14, 1964 A. w. MlLLARD 3,128,788 FLUID SWITCHING VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5/ J6 as INVENTdR X/ JF M ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 A. w. MILLARD 3,128,788

FLUID SWITCHING VALVES Filed Aug. 23, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ila -ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,128,788 FLUID SWITCHING VALVES Angus W. Millard, Tyle Cottage, Tylers Green, Gallstone,

Surrey, England, assignor of one-half to Drallirn Industries Limited, Upper Warlingham, Surrey, England, a British company Filed Aug. 23, 196i Ser. No. 51,391 Claims priority, application Great Britain Aug. 26, 1959 11 Claims. (Cl. 137-595) This invention relates to valve devices and is particu larly concerned with improvements in multiple port fluid switching valves.

Valves of the type with which the present invention is concerned are useful in the control and distribution of fluids under many varied circumstances. For example sequential distribution from a single source of supply may be accomplished to a number of diflerent outlets. As another example, simultaneous feeding of multiple outlets from a single source may be accomplished with subse quent feeding to a different set of outlets. Conversely valves of this nature may be used as mixing valves which feed from a plurality of sources into a common outlet. By selective timing of the feed from diflerent sources the proportions of the mixture may be controlled. Alternately feeding from more than one source may be accomplished simultaneously and the sources changed at will.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a valve construction which is simple in nature and which by selective use of a variety of sub-assemblies may be assembled to accomplish a large variety of different functions without the need for any basic structural change in the valve. This object encompasses the provision of standard valve inserts and parts which may be readily assembled or rearranged in the field without the need of special skill or tools to give the proper configuration for accomplishing the function desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of diiferent valve parts which may be easily placed in assembled relationship, including the various sealing elements, in a fashion which precludes leakage of fluid from the valve either through the closed ports or around the control member of the valve.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a port insert assembly at each valve outlet consisting of a minimum number of parts including a valve member or poppet and a valve control spring.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control spindle having a cylindrical shape with a local flat surface on the cylindrical portion adjacent the valve ports to serve as the controlling medium for opening the valve which is in registry with the flat surface.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a valve construction which permits the use of a plurality of banks of radially disposed valve ports, each bank being sealed from the other to give independent fluid distribution within each bank. With the cylindrical control spindle and its properly related flats this construction permits complex fluid distribution problems to be readily solved.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of port assemblies which may be used in place of a valve assembly either to close olf the port or permit its use as a constant connecting channel for transfer of fluid.

How the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplished will be clear from the following description of the drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation through a valve constructed in accordance With the present invention, the view being in the direction of arrows 11, FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken through the valve device in the direction of arrows 2--2, FIGURE 1.

3,128,788 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 FIGURE 3 is a plan view to an enlarged scale showing a different control spindle arrangement as compared to FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing another configuration for the valve control spindle.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken through the valve body in the direction of arrows 55, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevation taken through a different valve assembly from that shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show the construction of a typical switching valve of a fairly simple type constructed according to the present invention. The main valve body It) in the form shown is constructed with four main flat sides in order to accommodate four outlets or ports each having its individual control valve. A cylindrical control spindle 11 to which is attached a suitable control medium such as handle 12, is supported in a suitable cylindrical opening 13 in the body 10. The spindle 11 is provided with a groove 14 in which is mounted a resilient sealing ring 15 which may be of the O ring type, to prevent leakage of fluid from the interior of the valve along the control spindle. Another groove 16 in the spindle 11 accommodates a split Washer 17 which retains the position of the spindle 11 axially in the housing or body 10. Nut 18 is shaped to confine the split washer 17 when the nut 18 is in position, threads 19 being provide to support the nut 18 in the body Iii. A suitable lock, such as a set screw (not shown), may be provided to retain nut 18.

Each of the four ports or openings 20 in the body 10 is threaded to accommodate the valve body insert 21 which is threaded to mate with the thread in the housing or main body 10. Valve body insert 21 is provided with a flange 22 which may be in the form of a nut for convenience in tightening. A resilient sealing ring 23 is engaged by the flange 22 of insert 21 to seal against leakage at the threaded connection. Provision is made for a connection in the form of a tube or pipe 24 to each of the valve body inserts 21. As shown this may take the form of a threaded extension 25 attached to the flange 22 together with a mating nut part 26 having an inwardly directing flange 27. A resilient sealing ring 28 is urged into a tight sealing pressure contact With the tube 24 when the nut part 26 is tightened down so that the nut flange 27 applies pressure to the sealing ring 28 and distorts it into intimate contact with the tube or pipe 24.

Inside each individual insert or valve body 21 there is a cylindrical opening 29 extending from the radially inner end of the valve insert 21 outwardly. A shoulder 30 toward the outer end of the cylindrical opening provides a reaction abutment or surface for the helical spring 31. A tapered opening 32 extends from the inner cylindrical opening 29 to connect With the opening leading to pipe 24. A valve member 33 is supported for axial movement within the valve insert 21. The valve member 33 has an outer stem portion 34 of reduced diameter, the outer end of which is shaped to accommodate a resilient sealing ring 35. In the outer position of the valve the sealing ring 35 is positioned to contact the tapered opening 32 to close it and prevent flow there-through. Sealing ring 35 is preferably of the O ring type. The inner end of the valve member 33 has an enlarged portion 36 which provides a surface for reaction of spring 31 to urge the valve 33 inwardly.

It will be noted in FIGURE 5 that the inner enlarged end guide portion of 36 is shaped to fit the inside surface of the cylindrical opening 29 and thus guide the valve and support it in its axial motion for opening and closing. The sides of the inner portion 36 of the valve are cut away as shown at 37 (FIG. 5) to provide space to permit flow of fluid past this portion of the valve. It will be obvious that the enlarged end portion of the valve body may be shaped in different ways to support the valve centrally in the opening 21 and allow passage of the fluid past the valve member.

To lock the valve inserts 21 in position they are first positioned with the flats of the flanges 22 in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of the control spindle 11. This is readily accomplished by virtue of the resilient nature of the seals 23 which allow rotational adjustment of the body parts 21 while still maintaining a satisfactory seal. A lock plate 38 may then be brought into position and held against the flats of the flanges 22 by means of screws 39 thus positively locking all of the valve inserts 21 in position on the main body 10.

To provide a fluid connection to the valve a cylindrical opening 40 extends from the lower end of the valve body to the ports 20. The lower portion of the opening 40 is threaded and it may conveniently be the same size as the threaded opening to simplify the manufacture of parts. A threaded connector 41 may be attached to the body 10 and another sealing ring 23 may be used to seal between the body 10 and the threaded connector 41. Connector 41 incorporates an opening 42 leading through it and connecting with a pipe 43. Attachment of a pipe 43 to the connector 21 may be accomplished by the same type of connector as used for connecting the pipe 24 to the valve bodies 21. In this way the valve is equipped with an open channel leading to the inside of the valve body.

It will be noted that the lower end of the control spindle 11 is equipped with a flat spot 44 on the cylindrical portion of the spindle, whereby the spindle flat may function as a cam to control the position of the valve members 33 in the inserts 21 when the spindle is rotated. Thus when the control spindle 11 is positioned with the flat portion in alignment with one of the valve members 33 the valve member is permitted to move inwardly under the urging of spring 31 by an amount sufficient to space the sealing ring 35 slightly from the tapered surface 32 thus allowing passage of fluid past the seal. As will be noted in FIGURES 1 and 2 the valve member 33 to the left of the figures is shown in alignment with the flat surface 44 and thus in the open position.

The valve arrangement shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is well suited for delivery from a common source to four different delivery points one at a time. Conversely feeding from four different reservoirs to a single reservoir may be made under controlled conditions. It will be noted with the single flat surface on the cylindrical spindle 11 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 that three of the valve members 33 engage the cylindrical portion of the spindle 11. When engaging the cylindrical surface the valves are urged outwardly against the pressure of springs 31 so that the sealing rings 35 are held in intimate contact with the tapered opening to prevent flow. The fourth valve member in alignment with the flat surface 44 is permitted to move inwardly under the influence of the helical spring 31 as described above. It will be obvious that if desired the valve body 10 may be made with fewer or more connections than the four shown while still maintaining the same general type of construction. Thus by changing the shape of the valve body 10 three, five or more outlets may be provided in the same general manner as described above.

When desired to accomplish special delivery functions the spindle may be provided with more than one flat surface. Thus in FIGURE 3 the spindle 11a is shown with two flats 45 at opposite sides of the spindle to produce the opening of two opposite ports at the same time. FIG- URE 4 shows the manner in which the spindle 1112 would be shaped with two adjacent flats 46 to provide for opening of two adjacent ports at a time while retaining the other two adjacent ports in closed condition.

In FIGURE 6 there is shown a somewhat different valve arrangement using generally the same basic valve parts. The main valve body 47 incorporates the central bore 48 in which is supported the valve control spindle 49. The valve arrangement of FIGURE 6 incorporates two banks or sets of ports, the upper one being shown at 50 and the lower set at 51. The spindle 49 is arranged to extend into the valve body 47 past the upper set of ports and down so that its end is opposite the second or lower set of ports. An upper sealing ring 52 is located between the upper bank of ports and the upper end of the valve to prevent leakage around the control spindle 49. A second sealing ring 53 is located around the spindle 49 between the upper bank 50 and the lower bank 51 and provides a seal to prevent leakage therebetween, thus providing for independent operation of the two banks. The spindle 49 is supported in the body 47 against axial displacement by the use of the split washer 54 and a retaining nut 55 constructed in a similar fashion to the retention system for the spindle shown in FIGURE 1.

The ports or openings 56 are preferably all the same size and construction so as to permit interchangeability of different assembly inserts. By way of example the sub-assemblies shown to the left-hand of FIGURE 6 both in the upper and lower set of ports are the same as the insert assemblies for the valve units as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The parts for this valve sub-assembly have the same numerals consisting of the valve insert 21, the valve member 33, the tapered opening 32 and the sealing ring 35. Likewise spring 31 reacts between the valve insert 21 and the enlarged portion 36 of the valve.

On the right side of FIGURE 6 the sub-assemblies mounted in the ports are slightly different, there being two types shown. In the upper bank 50 the sub-assembly is almost the same as that for the left hand side. Thus the same valve insert 21 with the central portion of the valve member 33 and the enlarged portion 36 are included along with the helical spring 31. However in this assembly the reduced upper section 34 of the valve and the sealing ring 35 are omitted to form a dummy valve member. As a result the tapered opening 32 acts as an open port which is in continuous connection with the inner end of the ports and thus serves as a delivery channel. In this way a line or pipe attached to the upper right hand assembly can deliver fluid for transfer to any one of the other three valve units in the bank 50. The use of the dummy valve member and the spring provides a balanced set of forces around the spindle 49 so that regardless of the position of the spindle it is retained in the proper relative position by virtue of the flat being against a suitable spring loaded body. When the flat 57 opposite the bank 50 is rotated so that it engages the right hand plunger it will be obvious that the other three valve members will be moved to their outer positions so that their sealing rings 35 will be in engagement with the tapered openings 32 to close all three valves. Thus no flow occurs when the control spindle is in the position mentioned, that is, at degrees from the position shown in FIGURE 6.

In the lower right hand port a somewhat different assembly is inserted. In this instance the threaded insert 58 replaces the valve insert 21. Threaded insert 58 is completely closed so as to prevent attachment of a line or pipe to this port. However the inside cylindrical opening of the insert 58 is proportioned to accommodate the samebody part 33, 36 as in the upper right hand subassembly. Likewise the spring 31 is in position so that even though the port is not used for a fluid connection the balanced spindle positioning is produced by virtue of the dummy valve member and spring. Thus the lower bank 51 includes the blank unit shown at the lower right sub-assembly, a second sub-assembly similar to that shown at the upper right and two standard valve sub-assemblies such as shown at the lower left. In this way four ports have been arranged so that one of them is unused, one of them is a delivery port and two are controlled valve ports. Again by utilizing the spring loaded dummy valve portion 33, 36 the valve forces are applied to the spindle 49 in any of its positions.

Spacers 59 are attached to the body 47 by means of screws 60 to lock the valve inserts 21 or threaded inserts 58 in their adjusted positions.

With the double bank arrangement and with a proper selection of inlet ports such as shown at the upper right and blank ports such as shown at the lower right complicated systems can be handled. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 6 with the spindle in the position shown inlets to both banks will be open and the feed will be taking place outwardly through the two open valves at the left hand side. With the spindle moved 90 degrees in one direction the feed outwardly from the valve will be to two different outlet valves at 90 degrees to those illustrated in section. With the valve spindle 49 rotated 90 degrees in the other direction from the position shown in FIGURE 6 the upper bank will feed through still another valve outlet while the lower bank will not be feeding since with a single cam on the valve the two effective outlets from the valve will be in closed position. With the valve spindle turned 180 degrees from the position shown no flow will occur in either bank when single cam flats are used on at both banks of valves since in this position the three outlet valves in the upper bank 50 are held in closed position and the two effective outlets in the lower bank 51 are held in closed position.

It will be obvious that if desired only a single bank need be used in the valve of FIGURE 6 or if desired the valve may be constructed with only a single bank with the bottom of the body closed and the feed supplied by one of the ports being equipped with the open type connection as shown at the right hand side of upper bank 54 Similarly if more complicated systems are required more than two banks may be readily provided in a valve unit and the ports provided with the desired arrangement of sub-assemblies to give the particular system needed. Also, if desired, a mechanical drive may be arranged to move the control spindle where automatic control sequences or timed deliveries are to be used.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have provided an improved and simplified valve arrangement which is particularly useful where control of fluid flow in multiple circuits is desired. The use of a central valve body to accommodate several ports each having individual shut-oif valve assemblies allows many diiferent flow arrangements to be handled. The simple sealing arrangement by the use of resilient sealing rings at the valve seats, the rotating shaft and the static sealing points provides a positive and reliable construction which is easily assembled and does not require special tolerances or close adjustment. This general valve arrangement also allows the insertion of different assemblies at any port to provide a continuous feed or delivery line or to provide for closing the port in instances where all the ports are not needed in the system. The method of providing opening of the valve by a flat surface on the cylindrical control shaft is simple to manufacture and further assures positive closing of the valve. The sub-assemblies for the valve ports allow ready rearrangement of a valve unit to accommodate a different application. It will be obvious that the construction is well adapted for the transmission of either liquids or gases.

I claim:

1. A multiple port device having (a) a main body,

(b) a central cylindrical control spindle supported in said body,

(6) said body having a plurality of openings therein each having its axis radially disposed with respect to the axis of said spindle, each of said openings having an internal thread,

(d) a plurality of valve inserts, one of which is mounted in each of said openings, each valve insert including a. threaded cylindrical portion adapted to engage the thread of the opening in which it is mounted,

(e) the cylindrical portion of each valve insert having an external flange at its outer end and having a cylindrical opening therein,

(1) each of said valve inserts having a tapered opening connecting with its cylindrical opening and extending radially outwardly, the major diameter of each tapered opening being smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical opening to form a shoulder at the outer end of said cylindrical opening,

(g) a plurality of movable valve members, one of which is mounted in each valve insert in its cylindrical opening,

(11) each of said valve members having an enlarged inner end portion to position it in the cylindrical opening in which it is mounted, each enlarged inner end portion being shaped to provide a passage past it and the wall of said valve insert to provide for fluid transfer,

(1') each of said valve members having a stem extending from said enlarged inner end portion to form a shoulder, each of said stems extending into said tapered opening and having a groove with a resilient sealing ring at its outer end to engage said tapered channel when the valve member is held in the outer position by engagement of the inner end of the valve member by said spindle cylindrical surface,

(j) a plurality of spring elements, one of which is mounted to reactrbetween the shoulder of each valve member and the shoulder of the valve insert in which it is mounted to urge the valve member inwardly toward said spindle,

(k) said main body having a common chamber around said control spindle adjacent the inner ends of said valve units,

(I) said spindle having a flattened portion in its cylindrical surface in the plane of the valve members, said spindle being rotatable to bring said flattened portion into sequential registry with the inner end of each said valve members to permit it to open under the urging of its spring element to provide a flow channel by way of said tapered opening past the valve member and connecting with said common chamber.

2. A rotary selector valve device having (a) amain body,

(b) a plurality of valve inserts mounted in said body radially disposed in a plane,

(c) a control spindle mounted in said body normal to the plane of said valve inserts,

(d) each of said valve inserts being in threaded engagement with the main body of said valve device,

(e) each of said valve inserts having a valve member supported for axial movement therein,

(f) each of said inserts having a conical opening to form a valve seat,

(g) each of said valve members having an O-type resilient sealing ring mounted at its outer end and engageable with its valve seat,

(h) each of said valve inserts having a spring reacting between it and said valve member to urge the valve member away from its seat,

(1') said control spindle having a cylindrical portion for engaging the inner end of each of said valve members to urge it to seated position,

(i) said control spindle also having a flat cam portion to allow each of said valve members to move radially inwardly to open position when the spindle is rotated so that said flat portion is ailgned with each valve member.

3. A rotary valve device having (a) a main body,

(b) a plurality of valve inserts disposed in radial fashion within and around said body,

() each of said valve insertshaving a cylindrical portion,

(d) each of said valve inserts having an inner valve member movable axially within said cylindrical portion,

(2) a cylindrical control spindle mounted in said body normal to the axes of said valve units,

(f) two grooves in said spindle,

(g) a sealing ring in one of said grooves,

(11) a split retaining ring supported in the other of saidgrooves and engaging said body to position the spindle with respect thereto,

(i) a nut threaded into said body, said nut having a recess to engage said retaining ring around its periphery and prevent withdrawal of said spindle from said body,

(1') the inner end of said control spindle having a cam portion for causing movement of each of said valve members, motion in the outward direction causing closing of the valve unit.

4. A rotary valve device having (a) a body with a plurality of radial openings therein,

(b) a cylindrical control spindle rotationally mounted in said body normal to the plane of said radial openings, a plurality of said openings each having (c) a valve assembly removably mounted therein, each of said valve assemblies including (1) a hollow cylindrical insert having a threaded portion mounting it in its opening, said insert having an extension portion extending outside of said body and avalve seat between said portions,

(2) a valve member mounted in said cylindrical insert ((1) each-of said valve members having an enlarged inner end and a stern portion having a resilient 0- ring seal at its outer end,

(e) each of said valve members having a spring reacting between the enlarged inner end and the cylindrical insert in which it is mounted to urge the valve member inwardly, and

( f) a cam surface on said control spindle rotatable into registry with the inner ends of each valve member, rotation of said spindle causing opening and closing motion of each valve member.

5. A multiple port rotary valve device including (a) a body having a plurality of radially disposed ports therein,

(b) each of said ports being equipped with a threaded insert,

(c) each of said inserts having a radially movable stern supported therein,

(d) each of said stems having a spring engaging it and urging it inwardly,

(e) each of said stems having a resilient O-type sealing ring supported at its outer end,

(f) each of said inserts having a tapered valve seat formed therein and engageable with the outer periphery of said sealing ring,

(g) each of said inserts having a pipe connector attached thereto,

(12) a control spindle rotationally supported in said body normal to the plane of said radial ports,

(i) said spindle having cam means engageable with the inner ends of said stems to cause movement thereof in an outwardly direction, each sealing ring being urged against its valve seat by virtue of said outward movement.

6. A rotary selector valve device having (a) a body,

(b) a plurality of valve units mounted in said body 8 radially disposed in a. plane,

(0) a control spindle mounted in said body normal to the plane of said valve.,units,

(d) each of said valve unitshaving (1) an insert with a conical opening to form a valve seat,

(2) a valve member circumferentially supported and movable axially in the insert,

(3) a resilient O-type sealing ring mounted at the outer end of said valve member and .engageable with said valve seat,

(4) a spring reacting against said valve member to urge it inwardly away from said seat,

(2) said control spindle having a cylindrical surface for engaging said valve member to move it positively outwardly to seated position, and

(f) said spindle having a flat cam surface to allow each ofsaid valve members to open under the influence of said spring when aligned with said fiat surface.

7. A rotary valve device having (a) a body,

(b) a cylindrical control spindle mounted therein with means for retaining it against axial movement,

(0) a plurality of radially disposed ports in said body,

(d) a valve assembly mounted in one of said ports,

said assembly including (1) a valve insert,

(2) anaxially movable-valve member mounted in said insert andhaving its inner end engaging said spindle and its outer end provided with a resilient O-ring seal, said valve member being movable outwardly into sealing engagement with said insert,

(3) a spring reacting between said insert and said valve member to urge it inwardly,

(e) a free flow assembly mounted in another of said ports, said assembly including (1) another valve insert having a channel extending through it,

(2) an axially movable element mounted in said insert having its inner end engaging said spindle and its outer end in spaced relationship with said insert to allow flow through said channel, and

(3) a spring reacting between said insert and said element to urge it into contact with said spindle.

8. A rotary valve device having (a) a body with radially disposed openings therein,

(b) a control spindle mounted normal to the plane of said radial openings,

(0) a plurality of said openings each having a valve insert removably mounted therein, each valve insert having a cylindrical cavity with a tapered channel in its outer end,

(d) valve members each having an enlarged inner end and a reduced diameter outer portion slidably supported for axial movement in the cylindrical cavity of each of a plurality of said valve inserts,

(e) a plurality of said valve member each having a groove around its cylindrical outer portion,

(f) each of said valve members having a resilient 0- type sealing ring mounted in its groove to engage the tapered channel of the valve part when the movable valve member is in closed position,

(g) each of said valve inserts andits corresponding valve member having a spring reacting between them to urge the valve member inwardly,

(h) said spindle having a cylindrical surface engageable with the inner end of each valve member to hold it outwardly in closed position, said spindle being rotatable sequentially to positions where each valve. member may move inwardly to open position.

9. A rotary valve device having (a) a main valve body,

(b) a cylindrical control in said body,

() said body having a plurality of radially disposed ports,

(d) a valve insert assembly mounted in each of a plurality of said ports, said assembly including (1) a valve insert having an inner threaded portion, an outer extension portion with means for connecting a pipe and a scalable interconnecting channel, the threaded inner portion having a cylindrical cavity,

(2) an axially movable valve member mounted in and positioned by the inner portion of said insert, the outer portion of said valve member having a sealing member supported thereon,

(3) a spring mounted in said cavity and reacting between said valve insert and the inner portion of said valve member thereby urging said valve member inwardly toward said control spindle,

(e) a closed plug insert mounted in another of said ports, said plug insert having an internal cylindrical cavity,

(1) an axially movable dummy valve member mounted in said cavity with its inner end engaging said spindle,

(2) a spring mounted in the cylindrical cavity of said plug insert and engaging said dummy valve member to urge it into contact with said spindle thereby providing balanced forces in said spindle similar to said valve member.

10. A rotary valve device having (a) a main body,

(b) a cylindrical control spindle rotatably supported in said body,

(0) said body having a plurality of openings radially disposed in a plane perpendicular to said spindle,

(d) an insert having a threaded cylindrical portion engaging each of a plurality of said openings and having an outwardly extending portion with means for connecting a pipe, an external flange between said portions and a resilient seal between said flange and said body,

(e) said insert having a cylindrical cavity in the cylindrical portion, a cylindrical channel in the outwardly extending portion and a conical shaped channel between the inner cavity and the outer channel, the inner end of the conical channel being smaller in diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical cavity with the smaller end of said conical channel connecting with said outer channel,

(7) a valve member having a stem portion and an enlarged inner end portion having surfaces engaging the inner cylindrical cavity and having cutaway portions to allow passage of fluid, the inner end of said enlarged portion being tapered to a smaller diameter adjacent said control spindle,

(g) a spring surrounding said stem portion and reacting between the end of said cavity and the enlarged portion of said valve member,

(h) a resilient O-ring seal supported at the outer end of the stem portion of said valve member,

(i) said spring urging said valve member inwardly toward said control spindle,

(i) said control spindle having a flattened section to spindle rotatably supported form a cam surface in the plane of the valve member,

(k) said valve member being positively positioned by the cylindrical surface of said spindle so that the peripheral surface of the O-ring seal engages the conical shaped channel to close it, said valve member being urged inwardly by said spring to move said O-ring seal away from the wall of the conical channel to allow fluid flow therethrough when said spindle is rotated so that the flattened section is registered with said valve member.

11. A multi-way valve device including (a) a main valve body having (1) an axially disposed cylindrical opening and (2) a plurality of radially disposed ports at equally spaced angles extending through said valve body from the axially disposed cylindrical opening to the outside,

(b) a cylindrical control spindle having a flattened cam surface thereon in the plane of said ports,

(0) a valve insert assembly in each of a plurality of said ports including (1) a cylindrical insert having an external thread supporting it in one of said ports, said insert having a cylindrical cavity in its inner portion, said insert having an outwardly extending portion having a channel therethrough and having threaded means to provide for a connecting tube, said insert further having a scalable channel between said cylindrical cavity and the outer portion channel,

(2) a movable valve member supported in said insert, said member having an inner enlarged portion engaging the wall of said cylindrical cavity and a tapered inner tip engaging said control spindle, the outer portion of said valve member having an encircling groove, an O-ring seal supported in said groove in position to engage the peripheral surface of said sealing channel when the valve member is in its radially outward position and to disengage the surface of the sealing channel when the valve member is moved inwardly,

(3) a compression spring mounted in the cylindrical cavity and reacting between said insert and the enlarged portion of said valve member to urge said valve member inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,345,772 Hibner July 6, 1920 1,822,346 Guiles Sept. 8, 1931 2,075,600 Baker Mar. 30, 1937 2,370,397 Ellinwood Feb. 27, 1945 2,407,789 Koehler Sept. 17, 1946 2,417,494 Hoof Mar. 18, 1947 2,544,597 Irti Mar. 6, 1951 2,569,598 Buchanan Oct. 2, 1951 2,691,990 Ashton et a1 Oct. 19, 1954 2,769,459 Birkness Nov. 6, 1956 2,783,775 Fullwood Mar. 5, 1957 2,800,773 Crew July 30, 1957 2,927,601 Martin Mar. 8, 1960 2,928,421 Nordstrand Mar. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 214,269 Australia Mar. 6, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No; 3, 128, 788 April 14, 1964 Angus W. Millard It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 26, for "provide" read provided column 6, line 72, for 'ailgned" read aligned column 8,, line 53, for "in" read at line 59,, for "member" read ,members Signed and sealed this 1st day of September 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST Wo SWIDER Htcsting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. A MULTIPLE PORT DEVICE HAVING (A) A MAIN BODY, (B) A CENTRAL CYLINDRICAL CONTROL SPINDLE SUPPORTED IN SAID BODY, (C) SAID BODY HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THEREIN EACH HAVING ITS AXIS RADIALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAID SPINDLE, EACH OF SAID OPENINGS HAVING AN INTERNAL THREAD, (D) A PLURALITY OF VALVE INSERTS, ONE OF WHICH IS MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, EACH VALVE INSERT INCLUDING A THREADED CYLINDRICAL PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE THREAD OF THE OPENING IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED, (E) THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF EACH VALVE INSERT HAVING AN EXTERNAL FLANGE AT ITS OUTER END AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL OPENING THEREIN, (F) EACH OF SAID VALVE INSERTS HAVING A TAPERED OPENING CONNECTING WITH ITS CYLINDRICAL OPENING AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY, THE MAJOR DIAMETER OF EACH TAPERED OPENING BEING SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE CYLINDRICAL OPENING TO FORM A SHOULDER AT THE OUTER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL OPENING, (G) A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE VALVE MEMBERS, ONE OF WHICH IS MOUNTED IN EACH VALVE INSERT IN ITS CYLINDRICAL OPENING, (H) EACH OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS HAVING AN ENLARGED INNER END PORTION TO POSITION IT IN THE CYLINDRICAL OPENING IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED, EACH ENLARGED INNER END PORTION BEING SHAPED TO PROVIDE A PASSAGE PAST IT AND THE WALL OF SAID VALVE INSERT TO PROVIDE FOR FLUID TRANSFER, (I) EACH OF SAID VALVE MEMBERS HAVING A STEM EXTENDING FROM SAID ENLARGED INNER END PORTION TO FORM A SHOULDER, EACH OF SAID STEMS EXTENDING INTO SAID TAPERED OPENING AND HAVING A GROOVE WITH A RESILIENT SEALING RING AT ITS OUTER END TO ENGAGE SAID TAPERED CHANNEL WHEN THE VALVE MEMBER IS HELD IN THE OUTER POSITION BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE INNER END OF THE VALVE MEMBER BY SAID SPINDLE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, (J) A PLURALITY OF SPRING ELEMENTS, ONE OF WHICH IS MOUNTED TO REACT BETWEEN THE SHOULDER OF EACH VALVE MEMBER AND THE SHOULDER OF THE VALVE INSERT IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED TO URGE THE VALVE MEMBER INWARDLY TOWARD SAID SPINDLE, (K) SAID MAIN BODY HAVING A COMMON CHAMBER AROUND SAID CONTROL SPINDLE ADJACENT THE INNER ENDS OF SAID VALVE UNITS, (L) SAID SPINDLE HAVING A FLATTENED PORTION IN ITS CYLINDRICAL SURFACE IN THE PLANE OF THE VALVE MEMBERS, SAID SPINDLE BEING ROTATABLE TO BRING SAID FLATTENED PORTION INTO SEQUENTIAL REGISTRY WITH THE INNER END OF EACH SAID VALVE MEMBERS TO PERMIT IT TO OPEN UNDER THE URGING OF ITS SPRING ELEMENT TO PROVIDE A FLOW CHANNEL BY WAY OF SAID TAPERED OPENING PAST THE VALVE MEMBER AND CONNECTING WITH SAID COMMON CHAMBER. 